22 | FEBRUARY 15 • 2024 

with an email campaign that 
largely contributed to the 
passage of IHRA in Georgia. 
Adar, who holds dual 
citizenship in Israel, enjoys 
a relaxing trip to the movies 
and embracing his foodie 
side by scouting for new 
restaurant experiences. 

DEREK WOLFE 
Derek Wolfe is a 
third-year 
psychiatry 
resident at Henry 
Ford Health in 
Detroit. At work, he spends 
his days (and sometimes 
nights) caring for his 
patients’ mental health. 
 He also participates in 
and has helped lead health 
education events for clients 
of Freedom House Detroit, a 
local organization that helps 
people seeking humanitarian 
protection. He truly views 
his career in medicine as a 
calling and loves practicing 
in Detroit.
Outside of work, he enjoys 
spending time with his 
fiancée, Dorrie Prussian, 
who he somehow convinced 
to move to Southeast 
Michigan from Louisville, 
Kentucky. Together, they are 
involved with NEXTGen 
Detroit (Dorrie is a board 
member), frequently 
attending events around 
town. You can also often find 
them walking through their 
hometown of Birmingham — 
probably holding a hot drink 
from Commonwealth. 
Derek is proud to be a 
part of the Detroit Jewish 
community. He is a 2008 
Hillel Day School graduate. 
He attended Andover High 
School and was an active 

member of Michigan Region 
BBYO. While he lived out of 
the Metro Detroit area for 
college and medical school, 
he was not too far away at 
the University of Michigan 
and Central Michigan 
University.
Looking ahead, Derek is 
excited to continue building 
roots in the Detroit area, 
always having his Jewish 
identity and community in 
mind.
He loves trying the many 
coffee shops throughout 
Metro Detroit, which 
he feels are underrated. 
Feel free to reach out for 
recommendations!

TAYLOR 
WEINTRAUB 
Taylor grew up in 
the Metro Detroit 
area and now 
lives in 
Bloomfield Hills with her 
husband, Ross, and 3-year-
old son, Madden. 
 After graduating from the 
University of Michigan in 
2013, Taylor began her career 
in elementary education in 
Atlanta, later transitioning 
into education technology. 
 Taylor, Ross and Madden 
decided to relocate from 
Atlanta back home to 
Michigan in 2021 and plant 
their roots in the Detroit 
Jewish community once 
again. 
Ultimately leaving her 
full-time job, Taylor started 
a small business, MAD 
Patches, specializing in 
hand-painted denim jackets 
and gifts. Taylor also works 
as a Parent Connecter 
for JFamily, focusing on 
connecting with other Jewish 

moms and families in the 
area and connecting them to 
one another through events 
to bring the Detroit Jewish 
community closer together. 
As members of Temple 
Israel, and her son a student 
in its ECC program, Taylor 
has become involved in 
the Parent Connection 
Program, planning events for 
the school and working to 
improve the ECC. 
Taylor is also involved in 
NEXTGen Detroit, as both 
a host committee member 
in 2023 and, in 2024, as a 
chair for EPIC, its annual 
fundraiser event. When 
Taylor isn’t painting jackets 
or bringing the community 
together, she is spending 
time with family or teaching 
dance at her childhood dance 
studio, Studio A Center for 
Performing Arts. 

SPENCER 
WOLFE 
Spencer Wolfe is 
the first- through 
fourth-grade 
science teacher at 
Hillel Day School of Metro 
Detroit. 
 Spencer grew up in 
West Bloomfield and 
immersed himself in the 
Jewish community at Temple 
Israel, BBYO and Tamarack 
Camps. Tamarack Camps 
served as his summer haven 
for eight years, where he 
shared his passion for the 
outdoors with his campers 
and co-staff. 
After graduating from 
Michigan State in 2018, 
Spencer was drawn by 
the desire to work with 
struggling teens in Utah. 
Ultimately, Spencer knew 

he’d return to Metro 
Detroit to serve the Jewish 
community. 
For five years, Spencer 
has infused Hillel Day 
School with a vibrant energy 
that sparks young minds 
in his science classroom. 
He’s been more than just 
a teacher; he’s a warm and 
caring male role model, 
demonstrating sensitivity 
and understanding. 
Spencer tailors his 
curriculum to students’ 
needs and interests, 
transforming scientific 
concepts into hands-
on experiments and 
collaborative challenges. His 
classroom is filled with open 
dialogue, where curiosity 
and self-expression are 
celebrated. The students 
learn to code robots, 
construct model lighthouses 
and build homemade arcade 
games for Purim.

His dedication extends 
beyond the classroom 
walls. Spencer recently 
completed the Detroit 
Marathon alongside his 
two brothers, pushing his 
physical limits and raising 
$1,500 for charity. This joy 
of giving to others spills 
over into his volunteering at 
Yad Ezra, where he recently 
started helping with serving 
sessions. 
You’ll also find Spencer on 
the pickleball court, reading, 
and spending time with his 
fiancée, Rose, and dog, Junie.

RABBANIT 
JENNA 
ENGLENDER 
Rabbanit Jenna 
Englender is a 
Judaic Studies 

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